The
Gallery Borghese is an art gallery located in the gardens
of the Villa Borghese. The Villa Borghese houses a substantial
part of the Borghese Collection of paintings, sculpture and
antiquities which was begun by the Cardinal Scipione Borghese,
nephew of Pope Paul V.

Much of the sculpture at the Villa Borghese is the work
of the Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Much of this work stands in
the location for which it was commissioned. For myself, the
highlight of the Villa Borghese is Bernini's Apollo and Daphne
by Bernini. It stands in the third room, where it was intended
to be, but has been rotated so that the figures face you
as you enter. Originally, they had their backs to the door
only revealing their form as the story as the visitor walked
around them. The Abduction of Prosperine is an immense and
energetic piece of work from
a single piece
of marble. The muscular figure of Hades contrasts with the
feminine, struggling figure of Prosperine.

In twenty rooms on two floors, the Villa Borghese is compact.
Entry is limited to 200 people every two hours. As tickets
sell out fast, book in advance!

Key facts

About Mark Sukhija

Mark Sukhija is a travel and wine blogger, photographer, tourism researcher, hat-touting, white-shirt-wearing, New Zealand fantatic and eclipse chaser. Aside from at least annual visits to New Zealand, Mark has seen eclipses in South Australia (2002), Libya (2006), China (2009) and Queensland (2012). After twelve years in Switzerland, Mark moved back to London in 2012. You can follow Mark on Twitter or Facebook